We aim to make our website as accessible as possible. However if you use a screen reader and require debt advice you may find it easier to phone us instead. Our phone number is 0 8 0 0 1 3 8 1 1 1 1. Freephone (including all mobiles).

How are magistrates' fines set?

If a court finds you guilty and sets a fine as punishment you'll be asked to give details of your income. The fine will be set at an amount based on:

The type of offence

How serious your case was

Your ability to pay

It's important that you go to the hearing, and take details of your financial situation with you. It's a good idea to take proof of your income or benefits, and a budget showing your total income and living expenses. We can help you put together a budget which will show this.

The fine may be set higher than you can manage if you don't go to the hearing, or if you don't give correct information about your circumstances. The fine can sometimes be reduced afterwards but it's not easy to do this.

As well as the fine, the court may order you to pay compensation and court costs.

How are court fines collected?

The court will issue a collection order explaining how you should pay the fine. This will usually be:

Can I go to prison if I don't pay my fine?

You can go to prison if you don't pay a fine, but this usually only happens as a last resort.

Prison is usually only a risk if the court has tried all other ways to get you to pay or if you've refused to pay. A court can give you a suspended committal to prison instead. This gives you one last chance to pay the fine and avoid prison.

How can you help?

We can help you put together a budget to take to your court hearing to show what you can afford to pay to a fine.

If you already have a fine and paying it means you're struggling with your other debts, we can also help you deal with them.

Contact our Helpline (freephone, including all mobiles) or use our online Debt Remedy tool. All our advice is free and impartial. We'll never judge you and you don't even need to tell us the reason you received the fine.